Afenifere: Yoruba is marginalised

A pan-yoruba group, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), yesterday alleged that the Yoruba has been marginalised by the President Goodluck Jonathan Administration.

It urged the Federal Government and the Federal Character Commission to correct the alleged injustice in recruitment and appointments into critical sectors of the economy.

The group said recruitments and appointments at the federal level are being manipulated to favour some geo-political zones.

ARG National Chairman Mr. Olawale Oshun told reporters in Lagos that the group would petition the Federal Character Commission.

He said: “The Yoruba demand to know why the discrimination against us is on the increase. We note with verifiable evidence that most routine appointments and recruitment into the public service in this administration completely short-change our people.

“For instance, of the 792 cadet officers recently recruited for training at the Customs Training College (CTC) in Kano, only 45 were from the Southwest. One hundred and sixty eight cadets were from the Northcenral, 157 from the Northeast, 91 from the Southsouth and 68 from the Southeast.

“The evidence before us shows that 5.8 per cent of the cadets are from the Southwest, while the Northwest took the lion’s share of 33.1 per cent. What exactly is happening here?

“The report of the ‘ethnic cleansing’ going on in the Aviation Ministry is fast reaching an alarming proportion! Recently, we got reports that most of the key people sacked at the ministry are of Yoruba extraction.

“Findings indicate that of the 75 appointments made, 49 of the appointees are from the Southeast. The illogical justification offered for this decision is that it is in line with the ongoing transformation agenda. Is the marginalisation of a people the new definition of transformation?

“Our younger generation are asking us to define the meaning of ‘Federal Character’ when appointments and recruitments at the federal level are being manipulated to favour some geo-political zones to the exclusion of the Yoruba.

“We are alerting the whole world that Nigeria’s problems are not limited to governance. There is a calculated attempt to relegate the Yoruba to the background, which does not augur well for the country’s development. While it is not in Yoruba character to seek to dominate, enslave or push for unfair advantages against other people, we will not accept a situation where we would be deprived of what rightly belongs to us .

“Our concern is equity, fairness and justice for all, and if these qualities of ours are our offences against the rest of Nigeria, we have no apologies.

“We urge the Federal Character Commission to wake up from its slumber and right the wrongs that are being perpetuated by opportunists in high positions. We urge the commission to investigate all these allegations of discrimination against the Yoruba, especially in the civil service appointments and promotions, and we dare it to publish its findings.

“We are prepared to pursue our legitimate right without minding whose ox is gored. We will no longer fold our arms and watch people with curious agenda deprive our people of what rightly belongs to them, unless they are saying this country only belongs to certain categories of people or certain sections of the country.

“As a starting point, our group will be presenting an official protest letter to the Federal Character Commission, not only to formally bring these issues to their attention, but to also seek appropriate remedy.

“While we do not contend with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government on the way it chooses to share government positions and political appointments, facts on ground show that the Jonathan administration is bent on the complete marginalisation of the Yoruba from the scheme of things and we will resist it.”